Judge and jury? Ruto forms multi-agency team to fight corruption

President William Ruto has formed a Multi-Agency Team (MAT) to lead Kenya’s war on corruption, barely days after issuing a stern warning to public officials benefiting from graft.

The team, which brings together 11 key state institutions that traditionally work independently, will be chaired by the Office of the President.

The team will draw membership from the Executive Office of the President as its chairperson, Office of the Attorney General as the secretary, National Intelligence Service (NIS), Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Financial Reporting Centre (FRC), Asset Recovery Agency (ARA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA).

Other agencies, the President noted, will be co-opted where necessary.

“Independent institutions must up their game, pull up their socks and match up to the expectations of the people of Kenya,” Ruto declared, warning that corruption has bled the country of resources and public trust.

Funding for team will be drawn from the budgets of its member institutions, with room for additional support. The Attorney General’s office will provide secretariat services, ensuring legal guidance, while the Executive Office of the President will chair the operations.

Among its objectives, the MAT will boost collaboration, share intelligence, mobilise resources, develop public awareness campaigns, and work with international partners to trace and recover stolen assets.

MPs bribery claims

Last week, Ruto accused government officials and legislators of involvement in corruption calling for zero-tolerance.

While opening the Devolution Conference in Homa Bay, he warned that no official would be shielded.

“I have made it clear to the chair of the Anti-Corruption Commission and to the CEO that there will be no sacred cows and there will be no telephone call from anywhere below or above to stop anybody from being prosecuted for matters of corruption,” he said.

Ruto also raised alarm over bribery allegations within Parliament, claiming that some MPs were compromised to vote against the anti-money laundering law.

“Do you, for example, know that a few members of your committee collected Sh10 million so that you don’t pass that law? Did you get the money?” he asked MPs during a joint parliamentary group meeting.

The President further questioned unexplained wealth among county officials. “Where does somebody find Sh150 million? Is that his money? That is money that belongs to the county,” he remarked.